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“Hey, I miss you already,” I greet him.
“Damn, Em, that’s one hell of a greeting. I miss you too, baby. We’re getting ready for wheels up. I just wanted to tell you to have a good day.”
“You should have woken me up.”
“Nah, you looked like an angel sleeping in my bed. I didn’t have the heart to wake you. I don’t know when I’ll be able to touch base again. I’ll text you when we land. Keep me posted on Buckwheat.”
“Will do. Safe flight.”
“Love you,” he replies and ends the call.
I finish getting ready, pop a bagel in the toaster, and pull out the container of spaghetti that Landon made for my lunch today. Fifteen minutes later, I’m in my car and headed to work.
“Morning,” Aubrey greets me when I arrive at the shelter.
“Buckwheat?” I ask. “I see the vet’s truck outside.”
“Yeah, he’s with him now,” she says, taking a huge gulp of coffee.
“Rough night?”
“Something like that.” She smirks. “I hate when they’re out of town, and CJ was already asking for Daddy first thing this morning. Maybe we would be okay with just the sales off his ass trinkets?” she muses.
I just smile and shake my head. “I hear ya. Although I don’t have a little boy missing his daddy.”
“Not yet.”
I smile. “Maybe one day. Things are going great with us.”
“That’s easy to see. That man is crazy about you, Emma.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“You watching the game on Sunday?” she asks.
“Yep. You?”
“We are. Why don’t you come to the house and watch it with me and CJ? He’d love to see you.”
“Sure. What are we eating? Snack foods? Want me to pick up some pizza and wings?”
“Pizza and wings. That way neither of us has to cook. Well, I’ll make some cookies or something. Here.” She reaches for her purse. “Let me give you some money before I forget.”
“Nope. It’s on me. Cheese still for CJ?”
“You know it. One day the kid will eat more than just cheese on his pizza.”
“Got it covered.”
“Hello,” a deep voice calls out. Aubrey and I both head to the reception area to greet the vet. “He’s responding to the medication, but he’s not out of the woods yet. I gave him another dose and I’ll stop by tomorrow to give him another. Will either of you be here?”
“I will be,” I tell him.
“Great. I’ll stop in before I leave tomorrow to give you an update.”
“Thanks, George,” Aubrey and I say at the same time.
“Oh, and thanks for the heads-up about next week. Pixy could use a checkup.” Aubrey gives him a wide grin.
He just shakes his head and smiles. “You got it, boss. You ladies have a great evening.”
George is in his early sixties and he’s still in disbelief that Aubrey and Chance have a pet goat. It’s not the goat that surprises him. It’s that they let the goat live in their house and even take it for walks on a leash.
“He still thinks you’re crazy.”
“I know. I love it. Sure, Pixy is not a conventional pet, but the way we met and fell in love isn’t either.”
“Your life is what you make it. Besides, CJ loves Pixy. Now, where are we at for the day?”
“Just cleaning cages and feeding. Thanks to the adoption fair, we’re still not at capacity so it shouldn’t take us long.” So many of our animals found their forever homes. “I thought we could tag-team it instead of splitting up today.”
“Yes! It’s been way too long since we’ve done that.” Just as I say the words, the chime sounds on the door. Looking up, my mouth drops open. “Mom? What are you doing here?” I rush around the counter to give her a hug.
“We wanted to surprise you.”
I turn to look at Aubrey. “You little sneak.”
She holds her hands up in the air. “I’d love to take credit for this, but it wasn’t me. I didn’t know anything about it.”
“Landon,” Mom says.
“Really?” I ask, and my voice cracks.
“He called me the other day and said and I quote ‘we need to get you to Hermosa Beach more often.’ I agreed and here I am.”
“I can’t believe he did this.” I hug her again.
“He said we’re staying at his place?” she asks, raising her brow and giving me a look that only a mother can pull off.
My face heats. “Yeah, he likes to know I’m there while he’s away.”
“That man is whipped,” Aubrey chimes in with a laugh.
“Oh, I could tell with how adamant he was that I come and visit,” Mom agrees. “So,” she changes the subject, “what are the plans this weekend?”
“Well, I work all weekend here, and I was going to go over to Aubrey’s and watch the game on Sunday.”
“Tomorrow, you’re only here until noon,” Aubrey corrects.
“Perfect. I’d love to tag along and see what it is my little girl does every day. Most of the time when I visit, you’ve taken time off. Is that okay?” She turns to look at Aubrey. “Do you mind?”
